The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Chongqing (formerly spelt Chungking) is a Latin Catholic Metropolitan archdiocese located in southwestern China, yet still depends on the missionary Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. The Archbishop of Chongqing is the primate of the Catholic Church in Sichuan (Szechwan). Established on 2 April 1856 as the Apostolic Vicariate of Southeastern Szechwan, its archiepiscopal see is the Cathedral of St. Joseph, located in the provincial-level city of Chongqing, which lies in the eastern part of the mission territory, hence the designation of Eastern Szechwan Mission. The archdiocese has been vacant without an apostolic administrator since 2001.

Statistics and extent

The archdiocese covers the southern part of Chongqing (Tchong-kin-fou), while the north, including 1 district and 8 counties, is under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Wanxian (Ouan-hien). It is bordered by the Diocese of Suifu (its suffragan) to the west, Diocese of Shunqing (its suffragan) to the northwest, Diocese of Wanxian (its suffragan) to the northeast, Diocese of Shinan to the east, Diocese of Yuanling to the southeast, Apostolic Prefecture of Shiqian and Metropolitan Archdiocese of Guiyang to the south. In 1950, it pastorally served 37,608 Catholics (0.3%) on 135,187 square miles in 42 parishes with 85 diocesan priests and 120 religious (only 6 males).

Ecclesiastical province

Its suffragan sees are:

History

Episcopal ordinaries

All Roman Rite, so far members of a Latin missionary congregation.

Sources and external links